Common Refrigerator at work - keeping what's ours (page 2)

Paralipomenon

At a previous place we shared the floor with 5 other companies. I used to get to work early and have a bowl of cereal so I would buy a 2L carton of milk. Without fail, people would use it for their coffee or whatever and would leave just a dribble in it. So I get my cereal ready, get the milk out and there's only a thimble full left.

I taped a note to the carton saying what I used it for and asked for people to please not touch it.

I taped a nastier note to it when people ignored the first.

I put a note on it stating that I drink from the carton and that reduced people using it by about 50%

Then I got a fresh carton, poured out 1/4 of it out and added a healthy dose of vinegar.

They never touched it again.

sweetums

The only idea I can think of concerning the soda would be to break the seal and drink a couple of sips of it before you put it in the fridge and see they enjoy drinking after you. Maybe they wouldn't be quite as tempted.

Jim_TX

"The only idea I can think of concerning the soda would be to break the seal and drink a couple of sips of it before you put it in the fridge and see they enjoy drinking after you. Maybe they wouldn't be quite as tempted."

With can sodas... it's difficult to do this. This is also the reason that it went flat when they abandoned it on the counter top.

To have gotten to the soda, the person would have had to push all the other 'labelled' items aside and pull it out of its' location.

I may have forgotten to mention that my wife had neglected to 'label' this one can of soda. All other items had our initials on them.

Same thing with the syrup. She had neglected to actually take the 'magic marker' and put our initials on the bottle. I told her that I was going to put the 'skull and crossbones' on the side of the package. (That used to be used here in the states to designate a poison.)

It's just frustrating to have someone who is very inconsiderate - doing this.

Regards,

Jim TX

P.S. Yeah... we've also had milk 'stolen' from our carton that she brings.She likes to have a bit of milk to drink with her waffles. One morning - she had no milk, whereas the day before, she had one-half of a half-gallon milk left. I like the vinegar in the milk idea... that could work very well. I'd be willing to spend the money to 'see' that one work.

Scully

someone who is very inconsiderate

This is not merely being inconsiderate. Behaviour like this - stealing food from its rightful owner - is a display of contempt.

I like the webcam idea. Once you have enough evidence, a staff meeting is in order, with the thief being the guest of dishonor. Show the video of them in the act with all other staff members present.

If they don't quit on the spot, you can all take turns bitch-slapping them.

Or maybe, all that needs to be done is to start a rumor that "due to the numerous complaints from staff about their food going missing, management has decided to install a security camera in the break room". That would take care of things too. Just make sure you have management's blessing to spread such a rumor.

Finally-Free

If they don't quit on the spot, you can all take turns bitch-slapping them.

Only after ordering pizza for the entire company and docking it from his last paycheque.

This thread reminded me of something that happened here a few months ago. There was a one day training seminar here for employees that work in regional offices all over Ontario. Lunch was ordered in for over 70 people. Someone who was not part of the meeting saw the food and thought it would be a good idea to fill his face. He told a few other people, and they filled their faces too. The number of swine must have been significant. This must have happened in the space of a few minutes, but when the seminar attendees were called in for lunch, guess what? Nearly all of the food was gone! Our directors were livid, and heads did roll.

W

jaguarbass

Ideas? Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Anyone?

Regards,

Jim, I think this is just par for the course. Its just your basic human demographics for every 10 you will have a criminal, and a homosexual. Dont confuse what I say Homosexuals are not criminals, I am just pointing out the random mix of people in demographics. And I love all my gay friends, Its just demographics.

I keep my lunch in a portable cooler that I carry with me. It seems to keep the drama down. I have had enough drama in my life already, I dont need to breed it.

Paralipomenon

What I've done at my current place is remove the labels from anything that I leave in the fridge. Usually thieves aren't that brave with stealing something they can't confirm the identity of.

Honesty

This morning - someone used about 1/3 of the bottle of peach syrup last evening.

Add some vinegar to the bottle.

Jim_TX

"I like the webcam idea. "

Yeah... and that one is not too far-fetched either. They already have web-cams installed to monitor the 'long hall', reception area, and shipping/receiving area. Another in the break room would require very little effort (the room is already 'wired' with the ethernet cable up high on the wall).

Maybe I'll talk to my manager and see if he is willing to install another camera in there.

Regards,

Jim TX

restrangled

If you can't get a solution from the above suggestions, why not bring an old video camera and set it up some where. (high enough to be out of reach, and it doesn't have to work)....Paint the little "on light" red, (nail polish works great), and post a notice on the refrigerator the kitchen is being monitored due to theft.

I did this at a condo complex when I was the president. No matter how many notices etc., were sent out it kept happening. My upstairs unit was across from one of the dumpsters. Someone was coming at night and dumping garbage outside the dumpster . I put a nonworking camera in the window that was clearly visible from the street and posted a notice on the bins. The dumping soon stopped.

Good luck!

r.

Common Refrigerator at work - keeping what's ours

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